Sosei Group, a Tokyo, Japan-headquartered biopharmaceutical company, has regained worldwide rights from Teva Pharmaceutical Industries to develop and commercialize Sosei’s lead calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) drug candidate and other small molecule CGRP antagonists for treating migraine and other severe headaches. The drug was designed by Sosei’s wholly owned subsidiary, Heptares Therapeutics. Teva terminated the deal as part of its recent portfolio prioritization.

The CGRP drug candidate is a potent and selective small molecule CGRP antagonist designed by Sosei’s wholly owned subsidiary Heptares Therapeutics using its proprietary structure-based drug design platform. The candidate emerged from a selection process under an alliance with Teva. The first dosing in a Phase I clinical trial in volunteers was expected in late 2018. Sosei will now undertake a review of the programs and plans to update the market later in 2018 on the new expected timing for the candidate’s entry into Phase I clinical trials following a formal handover from Teva.

The termination of the 2015 licensing and drug discovery agreement between Heptares and Teva is a result of Teva’s recent portfolio prioritization. All licensed rights relating to the CGRP antagonist programs will be returned to Sosei. As part of the reversion package, Sosei will also receive the full preclinical data set generated by Teva under the partnership. Going forward, as a wholly owned pipeline program, Sosei will be responsible for the costs associated with developing the CGRP candidate or any other small molecule CGRP antagonists.

Source: Sosei Group